The Photography of Charles Silver

Have Eyes - Will Travel:

Photographer, Writer, Teacher, Videographer, Advocate, Activist, Artist, Speaker, Performer, Situational Misanthrope ...

I have always been guided by a wide range of interests in the human condition. These include world wide studies of and/or immersion in various mystical and spiritual traditions and practices from prehistoric to contemporary.

At different times and places since 1998 I have taught college level fine art photography as an adjunct professor; and, I have designed, implemented and taught literacy courses and programs to disadvantaged youth and adults based on the use of still and video cameras.

I used to tell mostly my own stories. I have put some distance between my earlier more personal, autobiographical efforts and my current work. Since an extended residency in the Philippines I discovered that I prefer telling the stories of the people I meet as I travel. I offer my camera and other skills in service to them in order to tell their stories. This way I feel I can help bring some awareness to these people, communities and issues which might otherwise go unnoticed or undocumented.

Going forward I want to continue to use my skills to highlight the status of living cultural treasures. I am especially interested in those that are fragile or endangered. I want to use my skills to break down barriers born of prejudice, address issues of injustice, inequity and bring awareness to social, political and economic issues.

In this regard I am engaged in a variety of ongoing long term projects mainly in New Orleans and the surrounding areas documenting the Post-Katrina recovery states of various folk traditions, communities and subcultures. In New Orleans I have also been invited to design and implement camera based community literacy programs drawing upon my previous experience in that field.

I have been involved with the production of photographs and a wide range of pseudonymous work in other art forms and mediums. I studied photography with Henry Holmes Smith at Indiana University.

The photographic work covers a wide range of subjects and styles and includes documentary studies, interpretive portraiture, personal art and autobiographical images. My works can be found in numerous private collections.

I am both self represented and represented by Leslie Barany Communications in New York and in Europe. I will soon be engaged in discussions with the Domeischel Gallery in New York City regarding additional representation.

I grew up near Chicago and have lived in Bloomington, Indiana; Venice Beach in Los Angeles, up in the hills near Louisville, Kentucky. Soon I will be living part time in New Orleans. I have had extended residencies in New York City, Woodstock, New York and the Philippines (in Dumaguete on the large island of Negros Oriental with visits to Siquijor Island). Currently I split most of my time between Louisville and New Orleans with additional travel as needed.

RECENT EXHIBITIONS:

2008: SIGNS OF LIFE at the University of Louisville's Hite Art Insitute's Cressman Center for the Visual Arts Gallery, Louisville, KY.

2008: JazzFest, New Orleans

2008: Mardi Gras 360 Online and Mardi Gras 360 at the Jazz and Heritage Foundation Gallery, New Orleans

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2008: SIGNS OF LIFE at the University of Louisville's Hite Art Insitute's Cressman Center for the Visual Arts Gallery, Louisville, KY.

1993/1994: 25 Year Retrospective, University of Louisville Photographic Archives.

1992: Van Go's Ear, Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California.

1986: Indiana Architectural Foundation Gallery, Indianapolis, Indiana.

INVITATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2007: Expressive Bodies: Contemporary Art Photography from the Kinsey Institute , Bloomington, Indiana and at the Herron School of Art and Design. A Roster of the artists is available here.

2002: Group exhibition, Art At Large Gallery, New York City.

2001: Group exhibition at The Yellow House in Flims, Switzerland: Liste Künstler/Werke für «Die Schaukel (The Swing) - eine Ausstellung zur Erotik» Gelb Haus (18.6.01).
1996: Deep Inside: Museum Show; Lausanne, Switzerland

1992: The Nude, Classic Beauty: The Silver Image Gallery; Seattle, Washington

OTHER EXHIBITIONS:

1991: For Your Pleasure: Louisville,
1989: The Erotica Show: Cafe Dog; Louisville, KY
1986: New Works: Bloomington, IN
1984: Friends and Others: Bloomington, IN

PHOTOGRAPHY IN PERMANENT COLLECTIONS:

1999: The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. A portfolio of 54 photographs added to the permanent collections.

1996: The Museum of Contemporary Erotica in Lausanne, Switzerland. A portfolio of 10 photographs purchased for their permanent collections from inaugural group show: DEEP INSIDE.

1991: The Photographic Archives of the Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. A 25-year Retrospective Portfolio featuring over 140 prints.

1986: The Indiana University Fine Arts Museum

Other Works can be found in in over 200 private collections in the U.S. and Europe, including: Thomas T. Solley, Wendell Cherry, Leslie Barany, Jacques and Anne Baruch and many others.

PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES AND CONTACTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

WEBSITE: The Photography of Charles Silver - UNDER CONSTRUCTION